Thanks for this post, I hadn't thought about the particular trope on a conscious level and now I am and this is a Good Thing.

(I also haven't had any access to see Avatar, nor have a read a full plot summary so I'm not really sure what goes on in that. But as a general post it still works totally.)

For the sexuality ones, because we're still mired in "gay/trans/non-standard-sexuality-is-wrong" stuff, would the same niché possibly be filled by "straight person makes non-straight person realise they're "straight" after all" instead? The "lesbians just need to find the right man" type of stereotype seems to be what would fill the niché if you let the majority define "freedom" - in the case of sexuality/gender the majority thinks "freedom" is being straight/cisgendered. I stay away from any fiction that might be like that so I can't quote you any titles, if they even exist.

I also think that in terms of disability, the non-disabled often think death is "freedom" - eg Million Dollar Baby. Ugh.

Thank you for making me think.
r